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Stingray Attacks At Local Beach

Attacks have also been reported in Los Angeles and San Diego waters

KEYT Reporter

Story Created: Jul 30, 2010 at 3:33 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 1, 2010 at 9:50 PM PDT

Carpinteria - Not far from the Carpinteria City Beach, known as the "world's safest beach," stingrays have shown up in the shallow waters.

Five people have been stung recently, a short distance up the coast near Carpinteria point where the warm waters from the salt marsh washes into the ocean. Three of the victims needed medical attention.

One resident saw the wound on the foot of a sting victim and said it was a bad injury. "And it was about six inches long. It was puffed up. His foot was swollen," said Mary Anne Schmidt. " I though he had staph. I told him to get to a doctor."

A city beach lifeguard, says there is a way to prevent an encounter. "You want to let them know you are coming. So you shuffle (your feet) just enough so the sand goes over your toes. That way you'll bump into them and they will float off," said Zach Doiron.

It you are stung, Doiron and other lifeguards will put hot water on the wound immediately and possibly call an ambulance. "As hot as they can handle it. Because your foot will hurt more than the hot water hurts."

There have also been stingray attacks at beaches in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties this summer.

One visitor on the city beach says she has had no problems and comes to the area often because the shoreline is very safe for children.
"The waves aren't too hard so it's easy for them to go a few feet out and not get hurt," said Darien Sheridan of Santa Clarita.

KEY News Senior Reporter John Palminteri has our story from Carpinteria Beach.
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